**Update**

We're still developing our first electric vehicle, and have been investing in its parts, equipment and design, however we've had to push its completion date from 2025 to 2026. In 2025 we will be competing with our final combustion vehicle, SFR16.

We fund our project from two main sources; we receive university funding at the start of the year, and we seek sponsorships throughout the year. At the beginning of the academic year our university funding situation was uncertain, and throughout the first few weeks we received news of more cuts. At this point we had already completed months of design, and had begun fundraising for the electric powertrain. We have already used the money raised to buy a motor and it's peripherals, which we expect to test on a dyno very soon. By around week 4 of semester, our projections for the total funds we could raise over the year suggested that there was a high likelihood of not being able to complete the project in 2025, so we made the decision to derisk the project through funding it over a two year design and build cycle, and extract the maximum value from our engine with a final ICE entry. We've since been working incredibly hard to find new sponsors and funding sources, and we've been very successful; we have secured enough to purchase everything we need for the electric powertrain ready for next September!

Our goal for this academic year is as follows:

- Test the motor and powertrain

- Buy the battery management system, battery cells, charger, wires, connectors and other EPT parts

- Pay for high voltage training for the team and relevant staff

- Find a solution for battery storage, transport and high voltage work

- Design the accumulator and build it's casing

- Continue designing more of SFR17, both mechanically and electrically

- Deliver SFR16, our final ICE entry

This will ensure that next year's team inherits all the equipment, data, systems and knowledge they will need to deliver an EV.

I recognise that this isn't the plan that we initially envisioned and communicated to you, but hopefully this has reassured you that we're using our resources to ensure the team has an electric future, whilst continuing to deliver the learning experience of designing and building a Formula Student car.

Thank you all so much

Kai Damani - Team Principal

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Summary

This season, we are competing with our last ever internal combustion car, whilst rapidly accelerating our development of our first EV which will be competing next season.

This year we have experienced unprecedented budget cuts (>60%), which puts the future of the team at significant risk.

We're asking for your help so that we can go to Formula Student UK with a competition winning car, and ensure that future team members will get the opportunity to keep pushing technological boundaries.

Our £1000 target would be enough to buy a motor we can test on the dyno for the EV, and any extra would go towards this year's ICE car and more incredibly valuable EPT parts.

Thanks you so much, and please keep reading to learn more.

Who are we?

Sheffield Formula Racing (SFR) is the University of Sheffield’s Formula Student team, competing in the prestigious IMechE Formula Student competition. The event brings together undergraduate engineering students from around the world to design, build and race a single-seat race car. The competition aims to build confidence and skills across the board, producing well-rounded, responsible and resilient engineers. Our team, comprising students from various engineering disciplines, works collaboratively to design, manufacture, and race a brand new car each year.

Beyond engineering, SFR fosters the development of professional and soft skills such as project management, leadership and effective communication. Our members often secure highly competitive placements and go on to lead successful careers across a wide range of industries.

Why are we raising money?

Throughout our team history, we have made significant technological improvements, including designing and manufacturing our first hybrid monocoque in 2021 and our first full monocoque in 2023. This season, we are accelerating our transition to an electric powertrain, which requires new knowledge in the design of high-voltage systems, including a 600V accumulator, as well as an extensive process of redesign for our chassis, drivetrain, and rear suspension. These costs have stretched our budget, making external financial support crucial to achieving our goals and securing a foundation for future learning and development.

The proposed investment will largely go toward components that can be reused in future iterations of our electric powertrain, laying the groundwork for future competitiveness. If successful, this project will unlock new creative and technical possibilities for future team members, leading to a lasting shift in the educational experience of SFR.

Our values

SFR places a strong emphasis on knowledge transfer, collaboration, and mentorship. With most members spending up to four years on the team, students gradually take on more responsibilities, gaining practical design skills and a deep understanding of fundamental engineering principles.

SFR extends beyond our Engineering Department, contributing to outreach programs aimed at inspiring school students to pursue careers in engineering.

We also put heavy emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion, so that our team members take these values onto their careers.

Thanks so much for your support, and for believing in the value of what we do.

https://www.sheffieldformularacing.co.uk/

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